Even though RMU did not come away victorious, it was a memorable night for Colonial fans. Senior assistant captain Sara O'Malley (Guelph, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) scored a goal at the 8:44 mark of the second period to tie the game and further cement her spot in Robert Morris record book. It was O'Malley's 44th career goal and gave her sole possession of first place in all-time goals scored at Robert Morris as she moved clear of the previous record holder, Kristen Miles.

This latest feat for O'Malley comes exactly four weeks to the day after she surpassed Miles in career points to take the number-one spot in that category as well. With her goal and a first-period assist, O'Malley became the first Colonial to reach the 80-point plateau Friday. She also now has 10 points in seven games against Maine in her career and has registered at least one point in every contest against the Black Bears.

A week after taking the most shots by an opponent against No. 1 Wisconsin this season, Robert Morris outshot Maine by a significant margin Friday, 44-15, setting multiple season bests in the process. The RMU shot total was its best of the season, its highest in its last 25 games overall and its sixth-best mark in program history. The 15 shots allowed by the Colonials is the least they have allowed in their last 147 games, dating back to Oct. 2006, and the third fewest they have conceded in program history.

After firing each of the first five shots on goal for the game, the early pressure paid off for Robert Morris as the Colonials drew a Black Bear penalty and found themselves on the power play. It did not take long for RMU to jump ahead--fewer than 20 seconds after the extra-man advantage commenced, sophomore Dayna Newsom (Oakville, Ontario / Oakville Ice) put home a rebound in front after O'Malley's initial shot was saved. Junior Brianna Delaney (Stittsville, Ontario / NCCP Raiders) picked up the second assist, her eighth helper of the season.

Maine was able to gather itself and temporarily halt the Colonial attack to even the score. Following a faceoff in the RMU defensive zone, Jennie Gallo won the puck for the Black Bears along the endboards and fed a centering pass to Missy Denk who knotted the game, 1-1.

Maine soon gained a chance to move ahead when it went on the power play just 18 seconds after tying the game, but the Robert Morris penalty kill proved resolute as it limited the Black Bears to just one shot on net in killing it off. Neither team was able to gain a go-ahead goal in the closing minutes of the first, and they headed to intermission still tied.

Not long into the second period, Maine actually benefited from having one of its players serving a penalty. After the Black Bears killed off the RMU power play, Myriam Croussette stepped out of the box and immediately became part of an attack for Maine. She received a pass at the edge of neutral ice and soon found Brittany Dougherty moving into the offensive third. Dougherty ripped a wrist shot to put Maine on top for the first time.

Robert Morris responded strongly by outshooting Maine 9-0 over the ensuing six and a half minutes before earning an important power play. Not long after sophomore Jennifer Kindret (Winnipeg, Manitoba / BC Breakers) hit the post with a shot, the Colonials were able to secure the equalizer.

Freshman Thea Imbrogno (Etobicoke, Ontario / Mississauga Jr. Chiefs) brought the puck across the blue line before dropping it to sophomore Kelsey Thomas (Hamilton, Ontario / Hamilton Hawks) near the right point. Thomas fired the puck in the vicinity of goal where O'Malley was stationed in front. O'Malley orchestrated a beautiful redirect that beat the Black Bear goalie for her record-breaking tally.

O'Malley's goal was Robert Morris' second on the power-play of the night on just five attempts, which was a notable development considering the Black Bear penalty-kill unit. Maine entered the game ranked seventh nationally in penalty kill percentage  (88.8%) and had killed off 22 of its opponents past 23 power-play chances successfully before Friday.

Even though it fired 20 shots on goal in the second period, the Colonials were unable to retake the lead, and the squads skated into the second intermission still tied, 2-2. The 20 shots tied the third-highest shot output total for a period in RMU history.

After giving up two goals on the power play, Maine finally took advantage of one of their own opportunities in the third to take the lead. Dawn Sullivan took a shot from the left circle that found its way across the goal line to give the Black Bears a 3-2 lead.

As Robert Morris was desperately searched for a tying goal, it kept firing the puck toward the net but found no luck. With RMU pushing forward, Croussette was able to sneak in behind the Colonial defense and added an insurance goal for the Black Bears with under three minutes remaining.

With her goal, Newsom, tied for the team lead with 13 points, has now already topped her point total from a season ago with 18 regular-season games remaining. She also has recorded a point in seven of the eight games this season when RMU has played a team for the first time.

Robert Morris also won 43 of the 71 faceoffs Friday, matching its best faceoff margin of the season. Delaney was particularly impressive as she won 15 of the 22 draws she contested.

RMU will look to start a new winning streak against Maine Saturday when the teams take to the ice for the series finale. The teams will tangle for the first faceoff at 2:05 p.m.